css_hello,I'm not sure the G3 has "near realtime view", at least I don't see that description on Orion's web site. It can download a full frame in 2 seconds or so, and you can define a smaller area to limit the amount downloaded (handy for focusing).

Yes, I am talking about G3, not el-cheapo CMOS planetary cams.I was thinking about the "continuous looping" capability such that every 2 second (or shorter if RoI readout is used). The continuous update every X second is the actual strategy used by many long-exposure capable (high sensitive) cams for astro viewing use.

Just FYI; the CCD in this camera is the same one that Meade used in its discontinued mono camera, the DSI Pro. The chip does have excellent sensitivity and low noise compared to other monochrome chips in its class. Orion added a TE cooler, which is probably a nice addition, though I haven't used it to confirm that.

I have recently started using an Orion G3 Monochrome to study charged particle tracks. It is a great tool, and very easy to get started with and use. But I have observed a peculiar behavior that shows up sometimes when I saturate a pixel. I saw the behavior first when doing flat fields.

At low light levels, everything was fine, but at high light intensity (~56000 counts) it appeared as if only every other row of pixels was being read out. The intermediate rows of pixels were at dark levels (~1000 counts). I then started using the G3 to study cosmic ray type tracks. For most tracks the images are fine, but when the pixels saturate, then every other row appears as if it were dark. Attached is an image showing two simultaneous tracks in a 5.2 second exposure. The track on the right has pixel values at ~38,000 and is registered correctly. The track on the left has pixel values of ~58,000 and is missing every other row of pixels. Note that it is not missing every other column. Just the rows.

I have heard from another G3 user that it exhibits this behavior, but no one I have spoken to knows how to correct it.